Printing telegraph apparatus



Feb. 6, 1940.

D. F. DE wou- E .PRINTING TELEGRAPH APPARATUS Filed May s, 1938/NVEA/TOR DE DE WOLF E A TTORNEV Patented Feb. 6, 1940 y PAT .rTELEGRAPH APPARATUS Donald Fraser no Wolfe, New York, N. Y., as-

signor to American Telephone and Telegraph Company,ra corporation voiNew York Application May 3,1938,` Serial No. 205,822

" 20 Claims. (Cl. 178-25) This invention relates to improvements incommunication transmission apparatus and more particularly to mechanismforindicating at the sending end of a communication circuit the numberof line-feed signaling operations in a message transmitted with atelegraph printer. V

An object of the present invention is to keep at the sending end of acommunication circuit an accurate count of the number of lines in a mes"sage that is beingtransmitted. More specifically istated, this object isto` keep at the transmitting end an accurate count of the lines on fermsheets 'employed in receiving `one or more orders, in-

voices or the like on a single sheet or` attached sheets wherein it maybe desired to skip, or leave blank a predetermined number of lines` ineach `order or the like. f y

` In printing telegraph practice there `have come` to' be used twogeneral types of devices,`one in which the record is printed'on acontinuous strip "of material and 'where the printing element isstationary with respect to the platemsuch as is exemplified by UnitedStates Patent No.1,745,633

, granted to S. Morton et al.` on February 4,1930

and another in which the record is printed transversely b-y amovableorfloating printing element upon a full Widthpage or bulletin as isdisclosed United States Patent No. 1,904,164` granted to S. Morton etal. on April 18, 1933. These two general classes of devices, differentstructurally, asi-nay be seen from the references.arefnever theless`controllable by and capable of transr` mitting the same class of signalimpulses, so that devicesof either class may be connected with 4those ofthe other and operated associatively. Since, however, the former classofdevice, which. fior convenience will be referred to hereinafter astape printers, are adapted to print consecutively `without interruptionfor purposes of carriage# lreturn, or line-feed operation and since in-contradistinction therewith the latter class of device, which forconvenience will be referred to as page printers, may not be thuscontinuously operated,

.but must of necessity receive line-feed and/or carriage-return signals,this sole vdistinction makes it impracticable commerciallyto use the twoclasses of devices together; thatis, in communication with each otherwithout some means of indicating inconnection with the transmitter`associated with `the tape printer the approach of the end of a line ofpage printing.` `r-iccordingv ly. when it is desired to vuse the twoclasses of printers together a character counter maybe attached to atape printer which will record the` vfcharacter operations individuallyand indicate by `ceived. v

Printingftelegraph apparatuses of the classes referred to comprisecomplete unitarystructures ployed for ysuch purposes. that while thepresent invention will be described in connection with the particularobject of coordia special signal when a predetermined number ofcharacters have been transmitted and/or re- ENTl OFFICE includingtransmitting mechanism controlled by a keyboard, or keyboard and tape ora perforated tape which serves to issue permutation codefsignals over aline and receiving mechanism` con.- ,m

nectedv tothe same linewhich is responsive to signals of a linecharacterissuing from a `distant transmitter. The printing mechanism of`each unit is responsive to both the incoming signals which aretransmitted 1 `from the remotey station :and the outgoing signalstransmitted from the :local keyboard, or keyboard and tape or the perf-'forated tape, and transmitting apparatus-r so that the printed recordat each station includes a y complete entry ofthe wholeintercommunication.

Since the diiculty of coordinating the two classes oi?v devices presentsa problem only to thetrans# mitting operator employing the tape printer,tle

application `of 'the present invention also is requisite only upon thistype of apparatus, particularly that employing a perforated tape for thetrans- 'rnitting medium. Where, however, `if for any other purposes it'is desired tolmaintain a visual n indication of` a cumulative record`for, a transmitting operator, thepresent invention as well as thecharacter counter may also be (readily `em- It is noted, therefore,

natingthe two classes of `devices that are at present in `commercialuse, that its ntility is by no means limited thereby, but that it isintended as an improvement having general application as a counter forelectrical impulses.

The'character counter comprises an electrically controlled device havingtwo types of indicators, one of which is a recording indicator anddisplays progressively the sum total number of sig` ,nals that aretransmittedsubsequent to` itsprevious resetting, while the other isanalarm signal in the `form of an incandescent ,electric lamp whichindicates the recordation of a predetermined number of theaforementioned signals;

Both of the indicators coact in response `to the same signals as may bemade to record either the received signal, the transmitted signal,orboth, although as stated above, the recordation of the l transmittedsignals is the general commercial practice. The character counter makesuseof a dial or `other class 4of index that lis capable of V"recordingand indicating successive `signals which counter is provided forordinarily keeping at the sending end of a communication circuit, duringtransmission, an accurate count of the number of lines of a transmittedmessage, or blank lines, that is skipped lines, received at thereceiving end onkform sheets that are usually employed for recordingorders, invoices, bills of goods, ,bills vof lading, etc., that may betransmitted between stations of an intercommunication system. Suchstations may be'ofces, plants, warehouses and the like connected withthe general headquarters. In transmitting information that must berecorded on a form sheet at a receiving station it is, in most cases,necessary to skip lines and spaces in order to reach a line or spacewherein information must be furnished in answer to some stock questioncontained on the forni. The

counter of the present invention'is concerned .leaving `'particularlywith the skipping of lines, that is, lank a predetermined number oflines in., the kmessage that is being transmitted. Whether or not thetransmitting or perforating operator is working blind, that is, when noprinted record of the message on a printed form is before the sendingoperator, the orderor invoicewould be correctly received on theparticular form sheet at a distant point should the transmitting orperforating operator have at all times an accurate count of the line onwhich the oper-` atorV is Working. f

A feature of the invention is the automatic restoration of the operatingmechanism and dial indicator whenever some predetermined number of linesof a message have been transmitted.

Other objects and'features will be noted in the following detaileddescription taken. in connection with theattachedndrawing and appendedclaims of which: v

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of the operative structure ofthe line feed indicator ,with certain parts broken away; and

` Fig. 2 is a front elevation perspective view of the line-feed counteras it appears when attached to a telegraph printer.

The operating mechanism of the present invention issubstantially thesameas that employed in the character counter disclosed in United StatesPatent 2,018,368, supra, except for the following: no alarm signal inthe form of an 'incandescent electric lamp is provided, there isprovided a special set of normally open contac s to operate thev countermagnet only when the linefeed key lever is depressed, and the contactsordinarily closed by the operation of the carriage-return are nowarranged to close automatically-whena predetermined number of line-feedvsignals are transmitted to close a circuit for oper- 1 ating therelease magnetsthe operation of whiii effectsithe restoration to normalof they operating mechanism and dial indicator automatically. A detaileddescription ofthe operation of the operating mechanisnimay be had bereferring tov United States Patent 2,018,368, supra, and the referencecharacters. shown in the drawing of the on tubular shaft mi.

are impressed upon a stepping magnet electrically present applicationare identical with those for the corresponding parts, or elements, shownin the patent.

fn' Figs. l and 2 of the drawing, the counter comprises two indicatorfingers I8 and s. In Fig. 2 the indicator fingers lare shown associatedwith their respective graduated scales shown on dial I5` enclosed inhousing id. The indicator, or index fingerl it denotes progressively thenumber of line-feed signals transmitted or received and the indicator,or index nger s shows a position to which'the counter may bepredeterminedly set. When the operating mechanism is operating invresponse to line-feed signals and indicator finger ii: is steppingaround to the point as predeterminedly set, the indicating finger s isstepping a corresponding number of steps back to its zero position. flThe indicator finger i3 will be resto-red to normal when thepredetermined number of line feed signals corresponding to the previoussetting ofiindex nnger s have been transmitted or received.l

- Mounted inthe center of the device and xedly .supporting theindex-finger s is shaft 00.

The indes; fingers is arranged to rotate as shown in l'iig` 2, in acounter-clockwise direction around the'i'nner graduated scale shown ondial l5, and the'indeir finger E8 is arranged to rotate in a :clockwisedirection around the outer graduated scale on dial l5. The l shaft ISDE?xedly supports at' its `end opposite to -that supporting index er s, acam member li. Shaft member IDU is frictionally mounted in tubular shaftIUI and when index fingers is set before transmission begips at apredetermined point, the projection on rearn meinizerll is in acorresponding position,

although the two positions may not be identical as shown inl'ig. '1.Tubular shaft i0! is rotatably ymppcrted, from the base' (not shown) ofthe device andv serves to support shaft N3D as africtional sleeve. Aratchet wheel 22 is iixedly mounte`d Tubular shaft lill has secured toits outer surface one end of an involute coil spring 2d, the other endof which is fastened .ingsome suitable manner to the framework (notshown) -of the device. When shaft l!!! is rotated in the direction ofthe arrow on ratchet wheel coil spring 2t, istightened around tubularshaft mi and therebyA stores a potential energy for urgingthe ratchetwheel back to normal posi- "l" tion, as will be evident from thefollowing description.

Fixedly mountedon inner shaft H10 is a steadyingwheel M22 to aidiii-holding ratchet wheel 22 in of its stepped positions during thestepping operations. 'Below and at eachy side of fratchet wheel 22 arepairs of magnets, the left side pair gli being referred to hereinafteras the operating, or stepping, magnets for the reason Vthat they act toadvance index finger IB and ratchet wheel 22 eachtimethe line-feed key lyis operated, and the right side pair :it being reed to hereinafter asthe restoring, or releasing,

ts for the reason'that they operate to re- .index finger 53 and ratchetwheel 22 in eration for a new sheet or order.

rlhe normal condition of the device is to have pairs of Vmagnets 2 and28' deenergized the armatures of these pairs of magnets areneId inoperated position bv a mechanical vlocking arrangement which will behereinafter describedx `Magnets 2B have an armature 29 `pivoted at andhaving fastened to it a lever vgage' a `cooperating arm .35 of a releasepawl 34l One 33 of the lever 3! is adapted to enland when not lockedremains suniciently `clear therefrom so as topermit the latter by itsteeth v36 to engage teeth 31 of ratchet wheel 22. An-

other armature 38 pivotedat 33 isl adapted to be vacted upon by magnets21 and pivotally carries an operating pawl 4| which is aiioating memberpivoted at 4,2: and spring-urged by coil spring 44 to engage teeth 31 ofratchet wheel `22 with its i engaging teeth 43. l v

During` an interval in which the magnets 21 are rst energized and then4deenergized pursuant to the transmission'of' each line-feed signal, thestepping pawl 4| is moved le'ftwardly to engage` a new tooth. 31 `of theratchet wheel 22l and then'to be moved `rightwa'rdly by spring 44concurrently advancing wheel ,22 one tooth distance and `bringing intoregistration with the teeth of release, or

` holding, fpawl' 34 `the next consecutive tootli'31 of ratchet wheel22.` l

Abell crank 45 is pivoted 'at 46 and is urged, by

a coil spring 41 whichis connected to one arm of crank 45 in a clockwisedirection while the other Iarm of crank 45 is provided with-a notch 48.

One ,armv 4Q of `lever 3| extends -over the extremity 5| of operatingpawl 4| and engages, with a portion 52Iangularly disposed therefrom, theforemost extremityfl of pawl 4|.

. Upon the energization of magnets 28 the arrnaa` ture 29 anditsassociated lever 3|, are' attracted to rotate'counter-clockwise'andin sodoing arm4 33 through an adjustable engagement screw 53 carried'by it,is `adapted to move release pawl'34 against theztendency of its spring54 out of` en` gagement with the teeth 31 of ratchetzwheel 22, while atthe same time the angular portion 52 of armA 49 engagingthe extremity5|- of floating pawl 4| withdraws the latter from engagement `'with`teeth 31 permitting the ratchet wheel `2`2"in re- `sponselto 'thetorque-'of Aspring 24Std resume its normal position asindicated.` i

*Aften the energization of magnets `28 and the j consequent operation oflever 3| l'the angularpor-A tion 52 of Varm 40 is adapted to be engaged'by the notch 48` of'bell crank 45`which` ylatter thereby operates torestrain lever 3| `against returning to i,

normal position. The bell crank 45 serves therefore'to 4hold lever g3|inthe restoring positioneven though the energizing circuit for magnets28 be opened The last-mentioned circuit -may be opened at the end of thedaysr'un'by manually turning knob |05 a slight distance inthe direc#tionof the arrow on cam member `1I soI as 4to open contacts 61. i j fFor purposesof releasingilever `3|-following a restoring signal,operating pawl4| is provided while at the same time allowing pawlI4lleto ,en-v

gage `the `next tooth of l ratchet` wheel k22 and thereby effect therecordation of the line-feed signal as well. Thusfthe restoringmechanismis actuated and the rst operation is recorded upon theindicator under controlof an initial line-feed signal. The extraline-feed signal' that is transl mitted for effecting the unlatching ofbell "crank 45 vmay be `compensated for,` if l desired; in any` suitablemanner.y `The number of teeth 31 upon the ratchet wheel 22 willcorrespondto the maximum number of linesthatmay be furnished on asheet.i i i' -2 w vThe releaseof ratchet'wheel `22 in response t'o t -theenergization of magnetsx28 causes'the' wheel to berestoredwith.considerable Velocity and in order to minimize thev shockuponthe sudden stop, a dash-pot (designated `5 6 in Fig.` 24 of UnitedStates Patent 2;018,368 supra) may be provided, which has a cylindricalair chamber in whichis adapted to move a close-fitting piston,` A rod 59secured to the piston is provided with a coil spring, and a shoulderedportion 62, at the `extremity thereof engagedwith said'coil spring,

is -adaptedto urge for maintaining said piston and rod inits'foremostposition, shown irr'dashy y lines in Fig.7 2` of the patent.For a detailedde-y l 'scription of the dash-pot referencemay be made tovUnited States Patent` 2,018,368, supra.`

fw a

Upon the release of ratchet wheel 22 from any` l 'of its ,advancedpositions a :cammed i shoulder portion '65 formed integrally therewithis adapted :first tov encounterY the shouldered." portion 62 or foremostportion of rod 159'which through the,

shock absorbing action ofthezfdash-pot aids `in settling wheel 22 intoitsnormal position.

l A pair of contacts 61 controls the operating cir` cuit` `for therelease magnets 28 andare adapted :tobe closed bythe projection on cammemberh11| l fwhen the ratchet wheel steps around to the posi` f tionpredetermined by the setting of indexnger 1 s. 'Ihe setting of indicators in a predetermined position` is accomplished by'. turning knob |05xedly attached to index linger s andshaft |00.

`,Shaft `|00 may be manually `rotated-against the,` friction of tubularshaft |0| andthereby knurled l wheel |02 v-andcam wheel,1.| arerotated a'dis-` Itancecorresponding to the setting of index linger S.` Thereissufiicient `tensile, `resistance in `coil spring 24 l.to prevent therotation of tubular shaft |0| and ratchet wheel 22 when the settingindex linger s is rotated to a predetermined position. Index finger syis shown in Fig. l as being set at `point `45- shown on the inner scaleof dial` i5,

Fig. 2. Cam wheel 1| isin the position shown in Fig. `1v when theindexnngers` is at point 45 `on the innerv scale of dial |5. `Whenratchet` wheel 224 begins to step inA response to the operationjfofline-feed keyv 31, the index nger s, the knurled Wheel 02 and cam wheel1| also step in the same diretrztion as the ratchet `wheel 22;` Indexlinger |-8in lstepping `keeps theoperator informed as to .the totalnumber of line-feed signals that have been transmitted,` `whereas `theindex finger; s `in stepping keeps -the operator informed as to `howlmany steps are required to reach the predeterminedlyfsetposition,`Theknurled wheel |02 -by .means of its vassociated spring pawls |03assists Kin steadying the ratchet vwheel 22ineach` of `its around to itszero position wherein the projection Yon vcam wheel 1| effects theclosingof contacts" l(il to operate therelease magnets 28.1 By pro-Lvidinga dial having two graduated scales numbered in oppositedirections,` as shown in Fig. 2,y

successive steps andthe cam wheel 1|Wsteps soy i -furnishes the operatorwith an indication of the" .number of 'operationsof line-feed` key .81and at rl'lhesame timewith an indication of thenurnber .ci `steps yet tobe taken before the `pred-:terrnined `position is reached. i Y l iGeneralA operation In the construction illustrated 1 `contact sets 61and 14 are normally open as shown.- Up-` yon transmission of' aline-feedy signalby the" @operation of key 81, alcircuit is closed from"grounded positive battery/70|, through` the closed contacts of springmembers `89 f andI 19,` through lthe windings, in series, of counterlmagnets 21 .to'grounded negative'battery'gl'. `Counter mag- ,nets 21operate, pulling up armature 38 and advancing pawl 4l into engagementwith a next "consecutive tooth .of teeth 3'? of-ratchet Wheel 22. Thisperformanceis repeated'with each operation of the line-feed .key 81until a suflicient number of such 'operations cause the indicator arm toreach a predetermined position on the outer scale of dial l5 (Fig. 2).At this time indeXnger s'has .concurrently returned to Zero.

Also,- at this time theprojection on cam. wheel 7| has been stepped.around to engage the lower i '1s fspring member of contact set 6l toclose a circuit from grounded positive battery |04, through fthewindings, in series, of release magnets 28 to grounded negative'.battery 9|. Release magnets 28 operatecausingthe latching of lever 3iAbybell crank 45 and should it be desired to release lever `3| andthepawls controlled by it, another operation ofline-feed key 87 isnecessary which will lcause the voperation of counter magnets v2 in theusual manner which will in addition to advancing pawl 4l into engagementwith the vnext consecutive ratchet tooth of teeth '31,' also dislodgebell `crank i5 from engagement with levers 18| and 52 thereby restoringnormalcyv to the armatures of the magnets and their associatedelementsWhile the present invention has been illustrated and described withreference to a parinvention.v

' lowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing telegraph system', a tape print- I 1er, a source ofsignal potential connected to said tape printer, a page printer, asignaltransmission medium interconnecting said printers, a line-feedsignal key forming a part of said tape printer for causing a line feedsignal to be sent from said source to said page-printer and a countingdevice connected to said tape printer and electrically controlled bysaidr line-feed signal key for counting' and indicating the line-feedysignals transmitted to said page printer.

42. In a printing telegraph system, a tape printer, a source of signalpotential connected to said tape printer, a page printer, a signaltransmission medium interconnecting said printers, a line-feed signalkeyforming a 'part' of said tape printer for causing a line-feed signal tobe sent from Asaid source to` said page printer, and a counting deviceconnected to said tape printer and electrically controlled by said linev feed signal key for counting the line-feed signals transmitted to saidpage printer, said counting device including means for setting `saiddevice in a predetermined release position and'other Vmeans electricallycontrolled for automatically restoring said counting device to normalwhen said device is operated to its predetermined released position.

' 3. In a printing telegraph system, a tape printer, a source of signalpotentialv connected to said tape printer, a page printer, a signaltransmission medium interconnecting said printers,` a line-feedsignalkey forming a part of saidy tape printer -for causing la line-feedsignal to be ysent kfromsaid source to said page printer,

anda counting device electrically controlled by -said lineifeed'signalkey for counting the linelfeed signals transmitted to4 said page printen4. In a printing telegraph system, a tape printer, a source of signalpotential connected to said knals perforated in said tape for subsequenttransmission to said page printer.

5. In a printing telegraph system, a tape printer having a movable tape,a source of signal poltential connected to said tape printer, a pageprinter having a movablepage, a transmission `circuit interconnectingsaid printer, a tape periorator including a moving tape and formingapart oi said tape printer, a line-feed signal key forming a part of saidtape printer for causing in conjunction withy said source Aof signalpotential a line-feed signal combination to be perforated in said tape,a tape transmitter for subsequently transmitting signals correspondingto said line-feed signal combination over said transmission circuit,means in said page printer lfor moving said movable page in response toeach of said line-feed signals received from said transmission circuit,and a device for counting and indicating during perforation the totalnumber of line-feed signal combinations perforated `in said perforatortape, and electrical means controlled by said line-feed signal key foroperating .said device.

6. In aprinting telegraph system, a local tape printer, a page printerat a distant point, a circuit interconnecting said printers, a sourcelof signal potential connected to said page printer, atape perforatingdevice, a movable tape perforated in said device with signalcombinations corresponding to those received from said signal source ofpotential, a transmitter controlled by said perforated tape and adaptedto impress upon said interconnecting circuit electrical impulsesdetermined by the perforations in said tape, and means enabling theoperator of the tape perforating device to prepare tape records suitablefor controlling said page printer at the distant point comprising aline-feed signal key for performing a line-feed signal perforatingoperation in said tape, said enabling means including an indicatorelectrically controlled by said line-feed signal key whereby theoperator is apprised of the position of a page which is being printed atsaid page printer at the distant point.

7. In a transmission system, a code combination recording and storinginstrumentality, a transmission channel, means controlled by saidinstrumentality to impress upon said channel signals representing thestored combinations,r a mechanism for recording line-by-line characterslrepresented 'by the code combinations impressed upon said channel andunder control thereof, a line-feed element operable to storecombinationsrepresenting line-feed functions in said instrumentality to cause 'aline-'feed"combinationi'to be sent over said channel, "and a 'countingdevice connected to said instrumentality and controlled by successiveoperations ofsaid line-feed' ele-i,

ment to count and 'indicate the line-reed com'- binationspassingtosaidinstrumentality. `8. In a'transmission system, a codecombination recording and storinginstrumentality, a` transmissionchannel, means controlled by lsaid pressed upon said channel and `undercontrol thereof, a line-feed element Operable tostore combinationsrepresenting line-feed functions in said instrumentality' tocause'ajline-ieedjcombination to be sent` over said/channel,l andacounting device connected to said instrumen- 20' tality and controlledby successive operationsoi said line-feed elementto count andindicatethe line-feed combinations passingffto said instrumentality i f 1 9. `Ina printing telegraphsystem, a tape print-` er, a source of signalpotential connected to said tape printer, a page printenafsignaltransmission medium interconnecting said printers, a linefeed signal keyforming a part of said tapei printer l for causing a line-feed signaltolb'e sent from said source to said page printer, and a countingdevicecontrolled by said line-feed signal key for counting the line-feedsignals transmitted` to said page printer.

10. Ina keyboard transmitter, aqcounting device comprising a scale,` anindex finger and spring return means therefor, a series of keys,mechanism including stepping means to move said index finger Withrespect to said scale in accordance with the operation of said countingdevice as determined by a certain keyoi said series, andelectromagnetically operated means automatically operable When said'index ringer is in any predetermined operated position to render'saidstepping means nefectivetol move saidv index finger and to enable saidreturn means to automatically restoresaid mechanism and said index ngerto normal positions. ll. In a keyboard transmitter, a counting devicecomprising a scale, an index finger and spring return `means therefor,a'second scale, an index iinger for said second scale, `a seriesof keys,means for manually operating 'said index 'iinger for said second scaleto a predetermined position, mechanism including :stepping means to movesaidindex lingers with respect to their respective scales in accordanceWith the operation of said counting device as determined by a certainkey of said series, and electromagnetically operated means automaticallyoperable when said index nger for the first-mentioned scale is in `anypredetermined operated position to render said stepping meansineffective to move i said index fingers and to enable said return meansto automatically restore the index finger for the first-mentioned scaleand said mechanism` means, a second stepping member, rst, manually`rotatable to any predetermined position and thenY responsive to theoperations of said electromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic meansautomatically responsive to said second stepping member when said secondstepping memberfis stepped .to its normal position, and means responsiveto the operation of said second electromagnetic ymeans for rotating saidrst stepping member tov normal. v `113; A countingdevice comprising anoperating key, electromagnetic means responsive to the operations ofsaid key, a stepping member ,re-

sponsive to theoperation of said electromagnetic means, a secondstepping member, first, manuallyv rotatable independently of thelfirst-mentioned stepping i member lto any predetermined position and4then responsive to the stepping operations of ,the first-mentionedstepping member, a second electromagnetic means responsive to saidsecond stepping` member when said second stepping member is steppedto`its normal position, an element controlled by said secondelectromagnetic means for releasing the first-mentioned steppingmemberina stepped position, a spring controlled elementfor locking saidelement in an operated position, and means operative in response to thestepping-operation or the rst-mentioned stepping member and capable ofrestoring the nist-mentioned steppingmember to normal when said springcontrolled element locks the rst meritionedelement in an operatedposition.

. 14. In combination` with a telegraph transmitter, a line connectedtosaid transmittena source of potential whereby said transmitter iSarranged to send andreceive signals over said vline circuit,faline-ieeddndicator and counter comprising ay dial having a graduatedsca1e,-a movable .indicator for saidscale, a key forming apart of. saidtransmitter for sending signals over said circuit, and electromagneticmeans responsive to the operation of said key, a rotatable memberresponsive to the operations of said `electromagneticmeans for movingsaid indicator along said scale, a second rotatable member arranged: tobe arbitrarily set in any predetermined position and` responsive to theoperationof said keycontact means responsive to saidsecond rotatablemember when said second member is' operated to its normal position, a`second `signal page receiving means, a circuit interconnecting saidstations, an operating key for sending line-feed signals to said pagereceiving means, a mechanism responsive to the operations of said key,visual means at the first-mentioned station responsive to said mechanismfor indicating to an operator thereat the number of linei'eed signalstransmitted, and means automatically operative when a predeterminednumber `of line feed signals are transmitted to restore said mechanismto normal.

16. In a printing telegraph set, a transmitting mechanism, a receivingmechanism, a line-feed mechanism, means for actuating saidline-feedmechanism, and a counter for recording the number of line-feed signalstransmitted and/or received, including a stepping magnet under controlof said line-feed actuating means, and a release magnet for restoringsaid counter, means col operative when said line-feed mechanism isoperated a predetermined number of times for automatically operatingsaid release magnet, and means responsive to the operation of saidstepping magnet for automatically restoring said counter to normalposition when said release magnet is operated.

17. In a printing telegraph communication system including a stationhaving a signal transmitting means and signal receiving means, anoperating key for sending line-feed signals, a mechanism responsive tothe operation of said key, operative means for setting said mechanism toautomatically restore itself to normal when it is in a predeterminedposition, visual means for indicating said predetermined position, othervisual means for indicating the number of linefeed signals transmittedat any time during transmission, said first-mentioned visual means beingarranged to indicate during transmission the number of operations ofsaid key that may be had before the predetermined position of saidmechanism is reached and means automatically operative when thepredetermined number of line-feed signals are transmitted to restoresaid mechanism to normal.

18. A counting device comprising a dial, an outer and an inner graduatedscale on said dial, indicator ngers concentrically arranged on said dialfor respectively counting in opposite directions the graduations on saidscales, a rotatable shaft having at one end one yof said indicator ngersxedly attached thereto, at the other end a cam member xedly attachedthereto, and intermediate said one of said indicator fingers and saidcam member, a steadying Wheel xedly attached to said shaft, a tubularshaft frictionally mounted on the first-mentioned shaft, the other ofsaid indicator fingers being xedly mounted on the end of said tubularshaft, a ratchet Wheel xedly mounted on the other end of said tubularshaft, an involute spring member xedly mounted at one end to saidtubular shaft, means for manually rotating the first-mentioned shaftindependently of said tubular shaft so that said one of said indicatorngers and said cam member are set in a predetermined position, anoperating key, a counter magnet for operating said ratchet wheel onestep for each operation of said key, a release magnet arranged toautomatically operate when said ratchet wheel is stepped to the positioncorresponding to that to which said one of said indicator iingers andsaid cam member were predeterminedly set, the stepping of said ratchetwheel toits release position being also iective to concurrently restoresaid one of said indicator fingers and said cam member to theirrespective normal positions, an armature including a keying meanscontrolled by said release magnet for unlocking said ratchet wheel inits operated position whereby said involute spring member restores saidratchet wheel and said other indicator nger to their normal positions.

19. In a printing telegraph set, a transmitter having a line-feed signalkey, an indicator, means under the control of said key for actuatingsaid indicator, said means including a ratchet Wheel, a spring urgedpawl for engaging said ratchet wheel, an armature connected to saidpawl, an electromagnet for actuating said armature, a circuit includinga source of potential for energizing said electromagnet and a pair ofnormally opened contacts in directly engageable relation with said keyfor closing said circuit every time said key is operated, a second meansincluding a spring urged pawl for holding said ratchet wheel in anoperated position, a keying element in engageable relation with both ofsaid spring urged pawls, an armature connected to said keying element,an electromagnet for actuating the secondmentioned armature, a circuitincluding a source of potential for energizing the second-mentionedelectromagnet, a pair of normally opened contacts in saidsecond-mentioned circuit, a third means including a member arranged tobe set in a predetermined position and in engageable relation with thesecond-mentioned pair of contacts for automatically closing thesecond-mentioned circuit to operate the second-mentioned electromagnetwhen said ratchet wheel is operated to the position corresponding tothat to which said member was predeterminedly set whereby said springurged pawls release said ratchet wheel, and tension spring means forrestoring said ratchet Wheel .to normal position While said ratchetwheel is in its released condition.

20. In a printing telegraph set according to claim 19 wherein saidsecond means includes an automatically operated crank cooperating withsaid keying means in an operated position to lock said spring urgedpawls in their released positions with respect to said ratchet wheel,and

wherein the first-mentioned armature includes an s f DONALD F. DE WOLFE.

